Robin van Persie could miss Arsenal's opening Champions League tie against Braga next month, together with other matches, after scans revealed he had sustained damage to his ankle in the victory at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

The striker missed five months of last season because of ligament damage in his right ankle but it was the left one that he twisted at Ewood Park, a setback that forced him off after 35 minutes of his first start of the season.

Van Persie reported for international duty with Holland – they face Euro 2012 qualifiers against San Marino and Finland – and, after tests, the Dutch Football Association said he would be out for "at least a few weeks". Arsenal estimate that his absence will be for between two and four weeks, depending on how quickly the swelling subsides.

Van Persie will be replaced in the Dutch squad by the Hamburg striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has been rewarded for his blistering start to the Bundesliga season. The 34-year-old last played for his country in the finals of Euro 2008 after which he announced his international retirement.He reversed that decision in the hope of getting a call-up to the 2010 World Cup squad only to be overlooked.

Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, has already started to plan for the Premier League home fixture against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday week without Van Persie and the 27-year-old striker has become a doubt for the Braga tie at Emirates Stadium four days later.

If Arsenal's worst fears of a four‑week absence are realised, Van Persie will also miss the league game at Sunderland and the Carling Cup third‑round tie at Tottenham Hotspur.